The Captain was proved right in the ensuing days as John Harrison was seen at the Kirk residence frequently. Jim was in seventh heaven as she walked and talked and flirted with John. He was polite to her mother, charming to her, and had a substantial income from his shipping business. He also appreciated the fine arts and talked music with her for hours.

By the end of the second week, she thought she was in love.

"John," she said one afternoon as they walked along the Kirk property. "Will you be at the Komack's party in two weeks? They're very dull compared to Marcus and I'm hoping to have your fascinating presence there."

John smiled at her and nodded. "Most definitely, Jamesina. How could I miss an opportunity to enjoy your company? I shudder to think of what I would have missed had I followed my earlier instincts and not gone to the Admiral's."

He gave her a look with his keen aquamarine eyes and she blushed all over. To think such a person was interested in her! John had such a courtly bearing about him and made her feel like she was the only person in the room every time they were together.

"Good!" She said brightly. "Now, then, we can continue our discussion on the merits of Beethoven and Mozart."

"Indeed," he responded. "Now where were we? Oh, yes, the Ninth Symphony."

Later, He admitted to playing the violin passably somewhere along the line and she coaxed and wheedled him until he agreed to play with her.

"I am really quite out of practice, Miss Kirk," he explained. "I give you fair warning that I will likely greatly hinder your music making."

"Well, no time like the present to get reacquainted with it?" Jim said encouragingly. "Maybe we could practice enough to entertain mother's guests on Friday."

"Perhaps," he said indulgently. "Will it be a large party?"

"Not really," Jim shrugged. "Just Dr. McCoy and Carol Marcus and my friend Gaila. Possibly Mother's friend Captain Pike."

"Oh? I've heard good things about him as a distinguished naval officer and respected gentleman. Is he perhaps courting Mrs. Kirk? They would be quite a handsome pair."

"Oh, no," Jim sighed. "Mother has no plans to ever remarry. She's been trying to foist him on me and I've been attempting to tolerate him for her sake."

Instantly, she felt a twinge of guilt inside at the untruth of her statement. Captain Pike himself was far from irritating and she secretly thought his rare smiles were lovely, but she was not interested in him romantically at all. No, John was the one who held her heart and surely even Winona would agree they were a much more fit couple. There were plenty of older spinsters that would love to catch Christopher's eye, she was certain.

John frowned. "We can't have that, can we? No worries, dear, I'll make sure he won't be a nuisance to you."

Harrison was as good as his word, because he never left her side all evening and looked his most disdainful at the Captain the few times he spoke.

Leonard McCoy was observing the proceedings with some concern, which he voiced to Carol, who was standing by his side looking particularly charming.

"Jim seems to be snubbing the poor captain something fierce. I didn't notice him doing anything that would merit that."

"You're correct, Leonard and It appears John is encouraging it. Is he really so insecure that he needs to drive away any other male in the vicinity?"

"If he is, it's completely unfounded," Leonard remarked. "Jim does not have eyes for anyone else. In fact, I can't believe how familiar she's being with him, letting him touch her like that and...CRIPES!" He whispered fiercely.

Harrison had just snipped a piece of blonde curl from Jim's hair and was touching it to his lips. Jim, seated beside him, showed no objection to his presumption whatsoever. In fact, she was giggling and blushing. Gaila could be seen affecting a swoon nearby.

"Oh, dear," said Carol, blanching at the sight. Not that she didn't want Jim to find romance, but allowing him to be so forward when she'd only known the man two weeks was very risky. She decided to have a talk with Jim after her suitor had left.

In the meantime, seeing the general discomfort in the room, (even Winona looked uneasy and Pike looked like he'd swallowed a rock), Carol decided to suggest a change of pace.

"Jamesina, dear, why don't you play some tunes for us? You said you two had been practicing a piece together and I'm very interested in hearing it."

This seemed to snap Jim out of her dreamy daze.

"Why certainly, Carol!" She replied eagerly. "Shall we, John?" (Leonard tried not to choke at the brazen use of Harrison's first name)

"We shall," Harrison confirmed and went to his violin case.

The two of them proceeded to make lovely music together and even the uneasy members of the party couldn't help but be impressed.

"Brilliantly done, Miss Kirk, Mr. Harrison," said the Captain, speaking for the first time that evening.

Leonard shot him a glance, but his face was as inscrutable as ever. Only the eyes betrayed a hint of the inner tension he was feeling. It was enough to convince him Christopher was not as immune to the charms of Jamesina Kirk as he'd made them believe.

Carol managed to catch up with her friend once the men had departed, Harrison having kissed Jim's hand very slowly while saying goodnight.

"Jim, are you certain it is wise to allow such liberties to Mr. Harrison so soon? He was very bold tonight."

"Mother didn't see anything wrong," Jim said coolly as she put the room to order and closed the curtains. "He is a very passionate soul, Carol. You can't expect him to be all rigid and unreadable like SOME people. And by the way, why hasn't Bones declared himself yet? I can see he's smitten with you."

"Don't dodge the question, Jim," her friend said seriously. "Have you learned anything about his background and character beyond the surface?"

Jim looked decidedly ruffled. "He's an only child and his parents left him a tidy sum in addition to the income from his shipping company. Your father didn't have a negative thing to say about his character when I asked. I do not understand why people are being so suspicious! Can I not just enjoy my first real possibility of love? He's the epitome of my dream man!"

She flounced away in a huff, leaving Carol more troubled than ever and returning home greatly disturbed in mind. For Jim's sake, she hoped she was wrong and the two of them were a match made in heaven, but Harrison just seemed too good to be true.